On June 1, 2009, the Joint Procedure Committee filed a proposed amendment to N.D.Sup.Ct.Admin.R. 20 allowing presiding judges to delegate to magistrates, who are licensed attorneys, the authority to conduct preliminary hearings in criminal proceedings. A copy of the Amendment is attached.

ORDERED,the proposed amendment to N.D.Sup.Ct.Admin.R. 20 is APPROVED, effective July 1, 2009, subject to comment. Address written comments to Penny Miller, Clerk of the Supreme Court, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0530, no later than Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

The Supreme Court of the State of North Dakota convened this 3rd day of June, 2009, with the Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle, Chief Justice, and the Honorable Dale V. Sandstrom, the Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring, the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner, and the Honorable Daniel J. Crothers, Justices, directing the Clerk of the Supreme Court to enter the above order.